USA > Ohio > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of the Northwest Territory, history of Ohio, statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc > Part 89
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
time after his settlement in this county our subject sold the "Comer farm" and purchased land now in North Findlay, and this he subsequently traded for eighty acres adjoining his original entry of eighty acres, on which his house stood. Judge Strother began his labors in this county by clearing a three-acre lot and erecting a log cabin, and soon after brought his mother and sister (now Mrs. Joseph C. Shannon) from Licking County. His mother died at his home in 1851. Judge Strother was very systematic in all that he did. His farm was divided into twenty-acre fields; he planted three acres of orchard, and beside every sixteenth panel of fence on the entire farm running north and south he planted a grafted apple tree, and likewise along each fence extending east and west he planted peach trees. Early and subsequent settlers well remember the vast amount of delicious fruit that grew on and was sold from Judge Strother's well-cultivated orchard. Judge Strother was married, in 1847, to Elizabeth Todd, who bore him one daughter, Laura A., a teacher in the asylum for the blind at Columbus, Ohio. His second marriage was in 1851, with Sarah A. Merriam, a sister of the late Dr. William H. Baldwin (she had married A. F. Merriam in 1837, and by him had three children: Sarah J., wife of J. H. Schell, of Ottawa, Ohio; Mrs. Emily C. Kemble, of Findlay, and William D. Mr. Merriam died in Kentucky, whither he had gone to recover his health. He was a cousin to the Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, and came with that distinguished statesman to Pennsylvania. Mr. Merriam was the second practicing attor- ney in Findlay). Judge Strother's marriage with Mrs. Merriam gave him three children: Eva A., wife of J. C. Strickler, of Dakota; Mrs. John Shuck, wife of a worthy boot and shoe merchant of Findlay, and Nellie C. (latter deceased). Our subject lived on the farm until 1875, when he removed to Findlay, and about three weeks later, October 8, 1875, he died. His death has been an irreparable loss to his numerous friends. He had served as associate judge and county commissioner. In politics he was a Whig and Republican, and an active local politician. He united with the Methodist Church in 1852, and died triumphant in the faith. His widow resides with her daughter, Mrs. Kemble, the greater part of her time when not engaged in her active tem- perance labors. She has been a delegate to various temperance conventions, and was selected as one of Ohio's seven delegates to the national temper- ance convention held in Philadelphia, Penn., October 30, 1885. She is president of the W. C. T. U. of this, the Fourteenth Congressional Dis- trict of Ohio, and is an earnest, energetic advocate of the principles of tem- perance for the good of humanity.
ROLAND G. STROTHER, proprietor of the "People's Meat Market," Findlay, was born in Findlay Township, this county, June 1, 1854; young- est child in the family of Anthony W. and Mary J. (McRill) Strother, who settled in Findlay Township, this county, in an early day, and reared four sons and two daughters. Anthony W. Strother was born in Licking Coun- ty, Ohio, in 1812, son of Benjamin Strother, a native of Virginia. The McRills come of prominent people of Baltimore, Md., and were also early settlers in this county. Roland G. Strother, the subject of this sketch, was reared a farmer and followed agricultural pursuits until the spring of 1885, when he embarked in his present business. He was united in mar- riage, in 1879, with Mary, daughter of Samuel Hill, Esq., and by her he has one daughter, Mary Gladdis. Mr. Strother is an energetic and public-spir-
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FINDLAY TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
ited business man and citizen, and contributes liberally toward all meas- ures for the public welfare.
H. M. VANCE, stock dealer, Findlay, was born in Findlay, this county, February 1, 1833; son of Wilson and Sarah (Wilson) Vance, pioneers of Hancock County, and nephew of Gov. Joseph Vance, of Ohio. He is the only survivor of a family of eight sons and four daughters. The Vances come of pioneer stock in the State, from Virginia. Wilson Vance was born in Mason County, Ky., January 19, 1796, son of Joseph Colville and Sarah (Wilson) Vance, natives of Virginia (Loudoun County), and of Scotch -Irish ancestry. They removed to Kentucky in 1788, and to Ohio about 1800, settling in Greene County, and in 1804 moved to Urbana, Ohio. In the fall of 1821 Wilson and Sarah Vance came to Findlay, this county, where, besides serving as merchant, farmer, etc., he filled many important official positions. After a useful and honorable life he passed away September 30, 1862, respected by all who knew him. He was a strong Whig in politics, and never voted with either of the present parties. The subject of this sketch has spent the most of his life in Findlay, engaged in a variety of use- ful industries. He married, November 2, 1855, in Franklin County, Ohio, Flora, daughter of Alexander Shattuck, and by this union has one son and four daughters: Sally, wife of Walter G. Higgins, of Fremont, Neb .; May, wife of Charles Bigelow, of Findlay Township, this county; Carrie, wife of Samuel S. Howard, a resident of Chicago, Ill .; Mary J. and Cloys Wilson, at home. Mrs. Vance is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. Vance is a Democrat.
DAVID WALTER, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Findlay, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1820; son of John and Catherine (Roup) Walter, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in Lancaster County and the latter in Allegheny County; they died in Stark County, Ohio, whither they had removed in early times. They left five sons and three daughters, Jonas, John, Abigail, Barbara and Elizabeth are in Stark County, Ohio; George, in California; Nicholas, in Defiance County, Ohio; and David. All have families except one of the sons and one daughter. In 1849 the subject of this sketch came to this county and settled upon his present farm in Findlay Township, where he has succeeded in amassing a fine property and has a beautiful home. He married, in this county, Miss Amanda, daughter of Henry Bear, Esq., and they have five daughters living: Harriet Ann, wife of Charles Thomas; Emily E., wife of John Schwab, and Sarah A., Barbara A. and Amanda B. at home. Mr. Walter and family attend the services of the English Lutheran Church. He has always been a worthy, hardworking and painstaking farmer, and has reared and educated his family well. He has served his district with credit as a member of the school board. In politics he is a Republican.
JOHN WESLEY WHITEHURST, proprietor of the Eagle Restaurant, Findlay, was born in Rockingham County, Va., August 17, 1838; son of John and Margaret (Showalter) Whitehurst, of English pioneer ancestry, in that State. In 1842 they settled in Fairfield County, Ohio, and there the subject of our sketch grew to manhood. In 1860 he came to Hancock County, and the following year enlisted his services, August 5, 1861, in defense of the Union in Company G, Ninty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and did active service for over three years, participating in all the battles of these campaigns, and was wounded at Stone River, Ga. After the war he
786
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
carried on a restaurant business in Huntington, Ind., for two years, and afterward traveled in the interest of mercantile trade till 1871, when he retired from that and engaged with a circus business for two years; coming here he established his present business and has, by dint of good business ability, secured a nice trade and accumulated a good competence. Mr. Whitehurst was married, June 1, 1865, in Indiana, to Emma Ream, of Huntington, and by her he has one daughter Mollie-a young lady of estimable attainments. Mr. Whitehurst has always contributed liberally to all worthy enterprises. He and his wife and daughter are regular atten- dants of the services of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Stoker Post, G. A. R., and of the Findlay Improvement Society, and of the Findlay Natural Gas Company.
JAMES H. WILSON, P. O., Findlay, was born in York County, Penn .. May 13, 1803, son of James and Eleanor Wilson, of Scotch ancestry, and early settlers of Pennsylvania. Our subject was reared on the farm and ob- tained a common school education. In 1832 he came to Findlay, Ohio, and the day following his arrival he purchased a partially constructed frame building with a lot, the present site of the "Commercial Hotel," for $700, paying part cash. He worked at the carpenter's trade for about one year and then engaged as a clerk for S. & P. Carlin, early mer- chants. In eighteen months he embarked in mercantile business in a frame building erected by himself on the lot where now stands the "Carnahan Block." In 1848 he erected what was known as the "Melodeon Building," then the largest structure in Findlay, containing two store rooms on the first floor, offices on the second and a public hall on the third. This building was torn away to give place to the magnificent business block lately con- structed by T. & W. R. Carnahan. On retiring from his mercantile inter- ests Mr. Wilson turned his personal attention to farming and real estate transactions. In 1847 he laid out lots from an entire eighty-acre tract, now known as East Findlay, and buildings have been erected on a majority of the lots. For the last twenty-two years he has been connected with the First National Bank of Findlay as a director and stockholder and has retired from active labor. He united with the Seceder Church when about fifteen years of age, and has lived an active Christian life since, being now a mem- ber the United Presbsterians of Cannonsburg, it being the nearest organiza- tion of the church of his choice. He buried his first wife, Susan E. (Hutchi- son), who died July 8, 1880, and subsequently married Mrs. Lucretia A. Marsh. Mr. Wilson has seen Findlay and Hancock County " bud and blos- som," having located here when the families of Bass Rawson, Squire and Parlee Carlin, Frederick Henderson, Wilson Vance, John W. Baldwin, Matthew Reighly, Jonathan Parker, W. L. Henderson. Christian Barnd and William Taylor constituted the principal inhabitants of Findlay. He has experienced the hardships incident to the early settlers and merchants, such as making trips to New York by wagon, en route to Sandusky, by boat to Buffalo, by stage to Lockport, by canal to Albany and down the Hudson River to New York, to purchase goods. It is enough to say that society, as well as everything tending to promote the welfare of Hancock County, has been benefitted by his relationship with the community; yet it can be added that he has taken special interest in helping to establish the first two rail- road lines in this county, and has served the city as mayor and councilman with honor to himself and the satisfaction of his constituents. He cast his first
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FINDLAY TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE.
presidential vote for Andrew Jackson, but left the Democratic party in 1838, and since the birth of the Republican party he has been a stanch advocate of its principles. During the transactions he has had with the public in the various avocations he has followed in this county, he is characterized as hav- ing been strictly honest, and his acquaintance, which extends all over the county, will take pleasure in seeing him perpetuated with a brief pen picture and portrait in this volume.
HENRY F. WINDERS, dry goods merchant, Findlay, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, May 2, 1831, son of John and Elizabeth (Paden) Winders, the former a native of Shenandoah County, Va., and of pioneer stock of that State; the latter, a daughter of John and Sidney Paden, natives of Ireland who came to this country in 1815, settling in Fairfield County. The subject of this sketch, when a lad, was apprenticed to mer- chandising in the store of his uncle, T. B. C. Paden, of New Salem, Ohio. At twenty-one he embarked in the dry goods business there in which he con- tinned till 1859, when he retired to farming. In 1861 he came to Findlay, this county, and sold goods for Patterson & Taylor for four years, then em- barked in business on his own account with which he has been successfully connected here since. He was married, June 22, 1854, in Fairfield County, Ohio, to Araminta S., daughter of the late Judge Wiseman, of Perry County, Ohio, and by this union has one daughter and one son: Susie, the wife of Thomas Frazer, a druggist in Findlay, and John, associated with his father (he has a son, Henry, by his marriage with Miss Ella Crooks, of Massillon,
Ohio). Mr. Winders has held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church since his fifteenth year; has served as an official in same and has been Sabbath-school superintendent for over twenty-three years. He is a worthy Mason of over thirty years' standing. Though he has always avoided public office he has served with credit in the council and upon the school board of Findlay. Besides his extensive mercantile connections he has also been con- nected with many of the important industries in Findlay, and has contrib- uted toward the development of many of the city's important manufactur- ing and other interests. In politics he is a Republican.
JACOB YATES, farmer and stock raiser, P. O. Findlay, was born in Franklin County, Penn., April 24, 1825, son of Samuel and Mar- garet Swisher Yates, latter a native of Franklin County, Penn., and former of Virginia, just across the line; they come of a long line of worthy ances- try in their respective States. In 1833 they came to this county and settled in Eagle Township, where they both died, she departing this life in 1876, and he in 1877; they were parents of twelve children. Jacob Yates, the subject of this sketch, embarked in business for himself at the age of twenty- one years, and has, by his own exertions, accumulated a handsome, compe- tence, owning at present 256 acres of valuable land and several head of val- uable fine stock. Of late years he has engaged in stock dealing and has done extensive business in shipments of cattle, etc., from Findlay. Mr. Yates married, in 1848, Barbara Foreman, who departed this life September 22, 1860, leaving two sons and four daughters: Melissa Ann, wife of Joseph Cheesebrough, of Findlay, Ohio; Cordelia, wife of Henry Shank, Esq. ; Sarah, wife of William Black, Esq., of Findlay, Ohio; Ellen, wife of Jacob Oman, of Eagle Township, this county; Newton, a farmer of Jackson Township, this county; and Joseph (deceased). Mr. Yates' second mar- riage was with Mary, daughter of George Hook, Esq., and by her he had
788
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
four sons and two daughters: George A., B. B. Barney, Jay T., Carrie Blanche (deceased), Fannie May and Charles Jacob. The subject of this sketch has always given liberally to all measures for the good of the public welfare of his locality, and takes a leading position in his business interests. He is a thorough-going business man and is indebted to his own unaided ex- ertions for his large accumulations. He is an exemplary husband and father. In politics he is a Republican.
ABRAHAM YERGER, farmer and stock raiser, Findlay, was born in Blair County, Penn., in 1824, son of Abraham and Catherine (Groves) Yerger, also natives of Blair County, of German descent. April 5, 1841, our sub- ject came West and has led an active and useful life in this county since. He carried on his trade of farmer and currier and followed moving buildings, etc., for many years after, meanwhile acquiring a fine farm just outside of Findlay. He married, in this county, Miss Jane, daughter of Henry Jum- per, Esq. She departed this life December 29, 1873, leaving two sons: Charles L., married and residing in Bluffton, Ohio, and Albert F., married and residing on and working his father's farm in Findlay Township, this county. Mr. Yerger's second marriage was with Mrs. S. J. Hancock (nee Smith). There are no children by this marriage. Abraham Yerger has often been chosen by the people of this county to official positions within their gift and has also served his township in many official positions; his services as sheriff and deputy sheriff extended over a period of twelve or fifteen years, and, as coroner, over a period of four years. He and his family attended services at the Lutheran Church. In politics he is a Democrat.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
DAVID BEAGLE, merchant, Houcktown, was born May 17, 1846, in Muskingum County, Ohio, son of John and Matilda (Selson) Beagle, natives of Frederick County, Md., and who, after living twenty years in Musk- ingum County, Ohio, came, in 1852, to Jackson Township, this county, and purchased a farm on which they resided until their death; Mrs. Beagle died April 20,1861, and Mr. Beagle January 10,1874, in his seventy-eighth year. Their children are Martin, Eli, Alva, Mrs. Eliza Tracy, John, Mrs. Eliza- beth French, Mrs. Sarah Waltermire, Mrs. Hester Shearer, David, George T. (all living in this part of the State except George T. who resides in Jay County, Ind.), and an infant (deceased). Our subject enlisted, May 1, 1864, in the One Hundred and Thirty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Potomac and took part in the Virginia campaigns. He received his discharge with his regiment, leaving an honorable record as a brave and faithful soldier, and, returning home, again engaged in farming. He was united in marriage, June 23, 1867, with Miss Sarah M. Waltermire, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Waltermire. In 1876 Mr. Beagle moved to Houcktown and established a boot and shoe shop which he carried on for two years. In 1878 he engaged in merchan- dising, and he has a general store carrying a complete stock of dry goods, groceries, hats, caps, boots and shoes, hardware and notions. He is a life-
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
long Republican; was appointed postmaster of Houcktown in 1878, which office he filled to the entire satisfaction of the people until March, 1865, when he voluntarily resigned. Mrs. Beagle departed this life October 25, 1884, leaving four children: Frank, Carrie J., Charley and Jessie M. October 29, 1885, Mr. Beagle was again married, on this ocasion to Emma, daughter of Thompson and Nancy (Siddall) Myers, who came from Mahon- ing County, Ohio, to this county about the year 1848, and have since re- sided here.
ISAIAH FOGLER, farmer, P. O. Findlay, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, December 18, 1852. His parents, Christian and Mary Ann Fogler, natives of Fairfield County, Ohio, moved to Findlay Township, this county, about 1862, and from there in 1868 to the northern part of Jackson Town- ship, this county, where they acquired a farm of about 500 acres of land. They next lived four years in Wyandot County, Ohio, and in the fall of 1883 moved to Wood County, Ohio, where they now reside. They have nine children living: Mrs. Lucretia Fellers, William, Isaiah, Mrs. Catherine Wiest, Jeremiah, Mrs. Esther Wiest, Mrs. Ida Shellenberger, Sherman and Sheridan. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, April 6, 1876, with Sophia Wilde, a native of near Fremont, Sandusky Co., Ohio. Since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Fogler have been living in Jackson Township, this county. Mr. Fogler is an enterprising young farmer and has here a fine farm of eighty acres of well improved land. In politics he is a Demo- crat. Mrs. Fogler is a member of the United Brethren Church.
WILLIAM LOWE (deceased) was born July 27, 1803, in York County, Penn., where he there married, March 8, 1832, Miss Sarah Hendricks, who was born in Baltimore County, Md., March 1, 1812. Our subject and wife came to Richland County, Ohio, in the fall of 1837, and, after three years' residence there, finally located on land they had previously purchased in Jackson Township, this county. Here they began to clear up and develop their farm, which was yet an unbroken wilderness. They had first entered eighty acres of land, to which they afterward added eighty acres and then forty acres, the farm now consisting of 200 acres of well improved land. Mr. and Mrs. Lowe reared a family of three children: Melchi, now living at home; Mrs. Tirbah Jane Ann Fahl, and Sylvester. William Lowe, the subject of this sketch, died August 22, 1876. He was a life-long Democrat. He and his wife were early members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Lowe now occupies the family homestead. Melchi Lowe, who resides with her, was born September 21, 1833. He was prostrated, in 1851, by a severe attack of typhoid fever, which partly deprived him of the use of his lower limbs. He is a gentleman of good education and mental culture. Sylvester E. Lowe married Miss Susan Foster, December 18, 1874, and is now farming a part of the homestead farm.
JOSEPH NEWELL, farmer, P. O. Findlay, was born in Shenandoah County, Va., July 20, 1809, and was brought to Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1812, by his parents, Thomas and Barbara Newell, former of whom died in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1815, the latter then coming to Jackson Town- ship, this county, in 1835, with one son, Joseph, and three daughters: Sarah, wife of Isaac Morrison; Elizabeth, wife of Adam Hoy, and Salome, wife of Samuel Moffitt. Mrs. Newell afterward moved to Illinois, where she died in 1860, aged seventy-three years. Our subject was united in marriage, in 1835, with Miss Barbara Bibler, of Fairfield County, Ohio, and
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
came to Jackson Township, this county, the following year, entering 160 acres of land. Their children are Mrs. Harriet Douty, Mrs. Asenath Altman, Joseph P., Mrs. Minerva Oman, Mrs. Emma Peterman, Louisa and Mrs. Sarah Morgan. Mr. Newell is an earnest and conscientious Re- publican. He has filled the office of township trustee for six years; is one of the representative pioneers and influential citizens of his township. Our subject is strictly a self-made man, having earned every dollar he owns, and has given his children a good start in life. He and wife are members of the Methodist Church.
JOSEPH P. NEWELL, farmer, P. O. Findlay, was born May 27, 1842, in Jackson Township, this county, son of the pioneer Joseph Newell. Our subject was reared on the farm of his father, and attended the schools of the home district. He spent four months in 1864 as a soldier in Com- pany A, One Hundred and Thirty-third Regiment Ohio National Guards, which was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and took part in the Vir- ginia campaigns. He was mustered out with his regiment, leaving an hon- orable record as a brave and faithful soldier always ready for duty. Re- turning home he resumed his occupation of farming, and January 29, 1865, was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Elsea, daughter of Moses Elsea. Since their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Newell have resided in Jackson Town- ship, this county. In 1866 he purchased of Judge D. J. Corey a farm of 160 acres, which he still owns. In 1877 he purchased the homestead farm which his father had entered from the Government, and here he has re- sided ever since. He has been industrious and successful in life and has acquired a fine property of 320 acres in all. To our subject and wife were born three children: Amanda E., Clara A. and Joseph Grant (deceased). Amanda E. prepared herself for the profession of teaching and has taught very successfully three terms in Jackson and Eagle Townships, this county. Mr. Newell is a Republican in politics; takes a deep interest in public affairs, and is one of the leading farmers and a representative citizen of Jackson Township.
J. F. PETERMAN, farmer and contractor, P. O. Findlay, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, December 20, 1832, son of John and Mary Ann (Jones) Peterman; latter was a native of Virginia, of English descent. John Peterman, who was born in Pennsylvania of Scotch and German descent, in early life was a stone-cutter, in later life a farmer. He came to this county in 1834 and settled in Jackson Township, where he died in 1862. Our subject, J. F. Peterman, the eldest in a family of ten children, was reared on the farm and attended the common school in Jackson Township, this county. He is the owner of a farm in Jackson Township, where he now resides. For several years past he has contracted for the construction of bridges and pikes, and while making that his principal business has also carried on farming. At the age of twenty-five years Mr. Peterman was united in marriage with Elenore, daughter of George Bower, a lady of Ger- man descent. Five children have blessed this union: Mary Ellen, Amanda, Sarah, William S. and Ida Blanche Maria, the eldest three being married. Mr. and Mrs. Peterman are members of the Baptist Church. He is a Re- publican in politics; has served nine years as school director in the district where he resides.
JOHN SWANK, merchant and retired farmer, P. O. Findlay, was born January 11, 1816, in Loudon, Franklin Co., Penn. His father, Henry
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
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